The garland made of notes worth Rs 18 lakh was presented to the BSP chief despite an outcry in the Opposition over a similar episode on Monday, when Mayawati was presented a garland estimated to have currency notes worth Rs 5 crore.

For a state that claims to have no money to pay compensation to the riot victims of Bareilly, the display of wealth is audacious.

The Opposition is enraged. While Congress leader Digvijay Singh said the 'Dalit ki beti' had become 'daulat ki beti', the BJP likened Mayawati to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav alleged Mayawati was being protected by the Centre.

BSP national general secretary Naseemuddin Siddiqui said the money was collected by party units in all 18 divisions of the state. He said party workers would henceforth greet Mayawati with garlands of notes and not flowers.

Siddiqui said the workers had expressed their wish to collect money and give it to the BSP chief in form of a garland as contribution towards party funds. He claimed the party had reached the position it was in only through small contributions made by workers.

Maya sacks BSP leader

Mayawati on Wednesday sacked her party's Karnataka chief Y.N. Sharma. Sharma was expelled following his remarks on Mayawati's cash garlands.

- With inputs from agencies

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